Images: Activities during the Siglap Day event organized by Siglap GRC in 2015 Source: Siglap Community Centre (@mysiglap) facebook page
"All participants will be invited to a traditional Malay 'wedding' to be held at an old Malay kampung. They will enjoy a biryani feast, just like in a real wedding. The food will be cooked by a popular Malay wedding caterer. The occasion will come complete with a couple who have volunteered to play the bride and groom sitting in state, kompang performances and celebration music,"
Mr Imhar Said, grassroots leader of Siglap CC and main organizer of Siglap Day 2015 (Chen, 2015)
[1] Dato' Redzuawan bin Ismail, also known as Chef Wan, is a Malaysian celebrity chef, television host, actor, restaurateur and entrepreneur.
[2] Tony Tan Kheng Yam was the seventh President of Singapore and the commander-in-chief of the Singapore Armed Forces who held office from 2011 to 2017.
[3] Lee Kuan Yew was a Singaporean politician and lawyer who served as the first Prime Minister of Singapore from 1959 to 1990 and recognised widely as the nation's founding father.
[4] Ithnaini binti Mohamed Taib, also known as Anita Sarawak, is a Singaporean singer, actress and talk show host.
[5] Rahimah Rahim is a Singaporean singer.
[6] Suhaimi Yusof is a Singaporean actor, comedian, entertainer and radio DJ.
Cultural Immersion Space: Hosting Activities and Visitors
Pak Ahmad’s House No. 488A was much visited in the past by national leaders such as former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and celebrities of film television programmes such as Anita Sarawak, and Pak Ahmad and his wife, Cik Sapiah bte Taib would welcome them. According to Pak Ahmad, there is not much that he can offer but his doors are always open and he always extends his welcome.
Today, cultural immersion programmes are organised for secondary school students at the house. EDN Media Pte Ltd organises programmes where students engage in activities such as batik ​painting and traditional cooking classes. The practice of keeping one’s doors open to visitors, a norm in kampung life of the past, has made both the house and its residents an important node in the social and physical network for visitors to Pulau Ubin.
Siglap Day 2015 at Pak Ahmad’s house was organized by Siglap Division grassroots leaders as part of the SG50 celebrations. Intended as a way for the one thousand participating residents to “discover Singapore’s past” (Matthews 2015) and enjoy the rustic charm of Pulau Ubin, activities included witnessing a traditional Malay wedding procession held at Pak Ahmad’s house, a biryani feast, kompang performances, and traditional kampung games, presenting an insight to the “Malay culture and country life” on Pulau Ubin (Chen 2015).
The welcoming nature of Pak Ahmad and Cik Sapiah have ensured the resilience and continuing relevance of a landscape that has drastically changed.
“Yes, usually during school holiday season. Batik painting, traditional cooking classes. But there are also university students coming here to visit, look around. When I was healthier, a lot of people used to come here. I welcomed them with open arms.
Even Chef Wan[1] came here and cooked here, my face was on TV! Tony Tan[2], Lee Kuan Yew[3], they all came over here. Anita Sarawak[4], the local Malay singer. Local artists. Some even filmed here, actors like Rahimah Rahim[5], Suhaimi Yusof[6], and so on. But I was younger and stronger at that time. Now I no longer have the energy.”
Cik Sapiah bte Taib, wife of Pak Ahmad
